As a Muslim, I have always loved cats. Dogs, not so much. I grew up in a traditional family where dogs were something to fear, often labelled as haram, and kept at a distance. Over the years, through reading, learning, and reflecting, I have come to better understand what Islam actually teaches about dogs, with far more nuance, compassion, and humanity than I once knew. This picture book gently mirrors that journey for me. “Street Puppy, Masjid Cat” tells the story of an unli

I have used “Lubna and Pebble” for many years as a read aloud in Grades 1 to 3. It has always been a text I returned to for its quiet tenderness. It was through Sarah Cordova’s new book, “The Power of Picture Books in Student Identity”, that I began to teach with this story more intentionally, particularly through the lens of refugee and immigrant identity. During book club on Friday, my Grade 3 students used this book as a mentor text to write about their own challenges. Wha

A couple of weeks ago, I read “Broken” by X. Fang.
 It is one of those books I kept thinking about while doing other things. While setting up my classroom. While watching my students work. While noticing how quick we are to hide cracks. Today, I came across another book that felt connected in a way I did not expect. “Perfect” by Waka T. Brown, illustrated by Yuko Jones, introduces children to kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. What I appreciate

This book is such a tender ode to siblings, especially sisters. Together We Are Sunshine follows three sisters through an imaginative outdoor adventure, told through the eyes of the middle sister, Haala. The looking up to an older sister. The quiet frustration with a younger one. The very real in-between feelings that come with being a middle child. As they kiss the sun, dance with the wind, and listen for the secrets of the world around them, something shifts. Annoyance soft